Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, focus on, and remember information in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions. What this means is that we tend to remember things that we already know and agree with, whereas we seem to ignore or forget things that we disagree with.
According to Psychology Today, confirmation bias occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea/concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true. They are motivated by wishful thinking. This error leads the individual to stop gathering information when the evidence gathered so far confirms the views (prejudices) one would like to be true.
Want to find out more? Read the Critical Balance e-book for youth workers on critical thinking and conspiracy theories!
